Malcolm Turnbull: we won’t be in Iraq forever

Malcolm Turnbull counters calls for more Aussie ‘boots on ground’ in Iraq as he prepares to meet Barack Obama.

Malcolm Turnbull poses for photos with LCPL Blaire Harris (left) and PTE Georgia Gilbertson (right) during breakfast at Camp Baird in the Middle East ahead of his visit to Iraq.

Malcolm Turnbull has countered calls for more Australian “boots on the ground” in Iraq as he prepares for a meeting with US President Barack Obama within days to renew talks on the fight against Islamic State.

Visiting Australian troops in the Middle East on the weekend, Mr Turnbull declared it vitally important that people see Iraqi forces rather than foreign troops retaking cities like Ramadi from the terrorist group.

The Prime Minister also revealed that Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al Abadi made no request for additional Australian help to defeat Islamic State.

“The Iraqi government did not ask us to do anything extra, although we had a very constructive discussion with the Prime Minster,” Mr Turnbull said.

Days before flying to Washington DC for talks on international security, Mr Turnbull flew into Baghdad and an Australian base north of the Iraqi capital to meet some of the 300 Australian troops who are training local soldiers.

While Mr Turnbull said the Australian contribution would “evolve” over time, he gave no ground to critics including former defence minister Kevin Andrews who have renewed their calls for a bigger commitment to defeat the terrorists.

“What further commitments we were to make would depend on the circumstances, but we do not intend to be in Iraq forever,” Mr Turnbull said.

Addressing troops the Taji base, Mr Turnbull told them that his Iraqi counterpart had strongly praised the Australians for their “critical role” in helping Iraqi troops retake Ramadi.

The success against Islamic State had given the Iraqi government a “strategic lift” that could not have been done without the Australian troops, Mr Turnbull said.

Mr al Abadi had given the impression of “real, substantial confidence” that Iraq was “turning the corner” in the battle against Islamic State, Mr Turnbull told the troops.

“It’s obviously vitally important that a city like Ramadi, and others to follow, are seen to be taken by Iraqi forces,” Mr Turnbull told them.

“They’ve got to win back their country but they need our help, and more importantly they need your help and you’ve provided it with great skill.”

Australia is the second-largest contributor to the US-led fight against Islamic State, with six Hornet fighter jets flying missions over Iraq and Syria while hundreds of troops assist the Iraqi National Army.

US Defence Secretary Ash Carter sent a message to 40 nations including Australia early last month to seek more military assistance to defeat the terrorist group, but the Turnbull government confirmed last week that it had turned down the request.

Mr Turnbull will speak to Mr Carter on Monday in one of the first sessions of a two-day visit to the US capital that will also include meetings with congressional leaders and security officials.

The Australian has been told military operations against Islamic State will be “front and centre” in the talks with Mr Obama, which will be held at the White House on Tuesday.

In a sign of Mr Obama’s regard for Mr Turnbull, the Prime Minister and his travelling party have been offered the use of Blair House, a historic home near the White House. Former prime ministers including John Howard and Kevin Rudd were shown the same generosity.

Disputes over Australia’s military contribution in Iraq and Syria have flared twice since Mr Turnbull deposed Tony Abbott last September, highlighting the difficulties facing the new prime minister in navigating foreign policy.

Mr Abbott responded to the Paris terror attacks last November by calling for more Australian special forces to be deployed against the terrorists, but Mr Turnbull rejected that proposal and claimed Mr Obama’s support in doing so.

The US president pointedly argued last November, around the time he first met Mr Turnbull at a series of global summits, that a foreign army could take ground off Islamic State but would not be able to hold it.

The argument was renewed when Defence Minister Marise Payne formally rejected the US Defence Secretary’s call for more military aid, arguing that Australia was already doing more than others. This sparked criticism from Mr Andrews last week.

The US ambassador to Australia, John Berry, who is in Washington for the talks this week, has rejected suggestions that the Obama administration is aggrieved at the Australian decision, given the scale of the Australian commitment compared to other countries.

Mr Turnbull made a similar case during his visit to Iraq on Saturday, declaring that European countries had to “step up” with bigger contributions.

France has escalated its military actions, especially air strikes, in the wake of the Paris attacks, but other European countries are reluctant to do the same.

“We’re encouraging other countries, particularly European countries, NATO countries, to step up and make a greater contribution, too,” Mr Turnbull said.